Skip to main content

Marinara Sauce

Fuggedaboutit! Marinara sauce is a great thing to have on hand at all times to make a fast and flavorful meal. Double or triple this recipe and freeze the sauce in pint-sized containers. Just pull out of your freezer and make a quick and delicious dinner by tossing it with cooked pasta. Or for a quick snack, spoon on some toasted Italian bread and sprinkle with your favorite cheese (Parmesan and mozzarella work nicely).

Recipe information

  • Yield

    makes 3 1/2 cups

Ingredients

1/4 cup olive oil
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 shallots, chopped
1 (35-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
3 fresh basil leaves, chopped
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan set over medium heat. Add the garlic and shallots, and sauté until the garlic starts to brown, about 5 minutes. Do not burn the garlic or your sauce will be bitter. Add the tomatoes with their juice, basil, red pepper flakes, oregano, salt, and pepper, and stir well. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce the heat to low and simmer gently for 25 to 30 minutes or until the sauce has thickened.

    Step 2

    Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks or in the freezer for up to two months.

From The Casserole Queens Cookbook by Crystal Cook & Sandy Pollock. Copyright © 2011 by Crystal Cook and Sandy Pollock; Food photographs copyright © 2011 by Ben Fink. Published by Clarkson Potter/Publishers. Crystal Cook and Sandy Pollock, the Casserole Queens, have been delivering casseroles in Austin, Texas, since 2006; they also teach cooking classes at Whole Foods stores in the area. They have been featured on Food Network's Throwdown! with Bobby Flay and Bobby Flay Radio on Sirius XM, as well as on television news and radio talk shows.
Read More
Khao niaow ma muang, or steamed coconut sticky rice with ripe mango, is a classic in Thai cuisine—and you can make it at home.
Reminiscent of a classic diner dessert, this chocolate cream pie offers pure comfort in a cookie crust.
Roasted poblanos, jalapeños, and red onion are coated with a melty sauce—warm with the flavors of pepper jack, and stabilized with a block of cream cheese.
With just a handful of ingredients, this old-fashioned egg custard is the little black dress of dinner party desserts—simple and effortlessly chic.
With rich chocolate flavor and easy customization, this hot cocoa recipe is just the one you want to get you through winter.
Caramelized onions, melty Gruyère, and a deeply savory broth deliver the kind of comfort that doesn’t need improving.
The summer salad stalwart gets a makeover.
This classic 15-minute sauce is your secret weapon for homemade mac and cheese, chowder, lasagna, and more.